Cabinet



H. PEISS June 26, 1956 CABINET Filed April 9, 1953 am. rw 8, 8 i.. u 8 L 2 6. v 7 \7 r/u u. MG. (E 0 Fw- MH l 3 0 v 9 /M4 9h 9 2/ 7 6 a M6 9 9 2 8 l au 4 M\\, /7 -l 3 2 20 7 ,8 a 2 2 2 2 F a 2 2 7 2 3.-- 9 m 2 4 2 2.--, @if m/ W F --19 4 [gli INVENTOR. HE/V? Y '9E/5S BY f E as

CABINET Henry Peiss, Madison, Wis.

Application April 9, 1953, Serial No. 347,713

4 Claims. (Cl. S12-111) This invention relates to a cabinet which may be joined to a similar cabinet to form an article of furniture usually described as sectionalized cabinets and relates more particularly to such a cabinet which may be so joined in such manner that no joint is apparent between cabinet units, with the result that the resulting sectionalized article has the appearance of a single custom-built unit.

It has become quite common to provide kitchen cabinets in the form of sectionalized cabinets consisting of a plurality of individual units, each of which may be carried in stock by a manufacturer or distributor. Sectionalized cabinets of this type have consisted of unit cabinets joined in such a manner that the joints between cabinets are visible to any beholder. The visible joints have two prin cipal disadvantages: (l) the esthetic appearance of the unit is impaired; (2) the cracks at the joints provide spaces in which dust or dirt may collect and from which it may be removed only with the greatest diculty.

An object of this invention is therefore to overcome these disadvantages by providing a cabinet which may be joined to another similar cabinet in such manner that no evidence of a joint is visible to a person casually inspecting the resulting sectionalized cabinet.

Another object is a cabinet which may be joined to another like cabinet by a strip of wood which is adapted to also cover the crack between the adjacent sides of the cabinets and is adapted to serve as a member to which cabinet doors for such cabinets may be hingedly attached.

Further objects will become apparent from the drawings and the following detailed description in which it is my intention to illustrate the invention without thereby limiting it to a scope less than that of all equivalents which will be apparent to those skilled in the art and in which like reference numerals refer to like parts and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of three of the cabinets of my invention disposed adjacent each other and adapted to be joined according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of three of the cabinets of my invention disposed adjacent each other, two being joined together according to my invention, two being partially joined in like manner;

Figure 3 is a plan View from above of the frontal portions of two of the cabinets of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a plan View from above of portions of two of the cabinets of my invention joined together and pron vided with doors enclosing the fronts of the cabinets;

Figure 5 is a plan View from above of portions of two of the cabinets of my invention joined together in a manner similar to that shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a plan View from above of a joint between two cabinets showing another modification;

Figure 7 is a plan view from above of a joint between two cabinets showing another embodiment.

Referring now to Figure l there is shown three cabinets iii, 2G, and 30 disposed adjacent each other, provided with tops il, 21 and 31, bottoms i2, 22 and 32, right sides 1S (not shown), 23 (not shown) and 33, and left sides 14, 24 and 34. The cabinets may also, if desired, be provided with backs 15, 2S and 35 and with shelves such as shelf 16. The cabinets are further provided with projections 17, 17', 27, 27', 37 and 37 extending forwardly from substantially the top to the bottom of each of the front vertical edges of the cabinets.

i nited States Patent 2,752,215 Faten'ted .lune 26, 1956 Those surfaces of the projections such as 27 and 27' which substantially face toward the center of the frontal plane of each cabinet, such as surfaces 23 and 28' of projections 27 and 27', each extend outwardly from the plane of the cabinet and inwardly toward the center of the cabinet so that each projection, viewed from above, has the appearance of a half dovetail. An adjacent pair of such projections, extending forwardly from the adjacent frontal edges of adjacent sides of adjacent cabinets, that is, the adjacent frontal vertical edges of adjacent cabinets, forms a full dovetaii when viewed from above, and thus the cabinets are adapted to be joined by a strip of wood having a dovetail or under cut groove therein such as strip 49 as shown in Figure 2.

As shown in Figure 2, cabinets ltl, 20 and 30 disposed adjacent each other, may be provided with shelves such as 26, 36 and 35', and each of the cabinets is provided with projections respectively designated 17 and 17 27 and 27', and 37 and 37' extending forwardly from the top of the bottom of each of the frontal vertical edges thereof. Each pair of adjacent cabinets is adapted to be joined by slidably engaging a strip of wood such as strip 49 over each pair of adjacent forwardly extending projections such as 17' and 27 or 2-7' and 37. A. strip may be slid downwards from the top over the projections as strip 49 is shown being slid downwards over projections 27' and 37. When in place strip i9 effectively disguises the joint by entirely hiding the crack between cabinets in the manner in which strip 49, engaged with projections i7 and Z7, covers crack 29. Projections such as 17 and 37', which extend forwardly from frontal vertical edges which are not adjacent to other cabinets, may have strips of wood such as strip 9 and strip 9' slidably engaged therewith to provide means for ningeably mounting doors adapted to enclose portions of the frontal areas of cabinets li and 31. Alternatively a false or dummy and may be provided adjacent the out'- side of side 33 and a similar false or dummy end may be provided with a projection extending forwardly from the front edge thereof adapted to form full dovetails respectively with projections i and 37' over which strips of wood such as strips 49 may be slidabiy engaged. Doors such as 3l, Sl', 82 and 82' may then be fitted to' the cabinets to enclose the frontal areas thereof. False or dummy ends, strips 9, 9' and i9 and the doors may all be made of a suitable hardwood such as mahogany, birch or the like which presents a pleasing and attractive appearance; the other portions of the cabinets, that is, the tops, bottoms, sides and backs may be of a less valuable wood such as pine, poplar, gum or the like.

As shown in Figure 5 the projections which extend forwardly from the frontal vertical edges of the cabinets may be adapted to provide a single forwardly extending projection, rectangular in cross-section, adapted to fit closely in a rabbet in a strip of wood, 59. Thus projection 47' extending forwardly from a frontal vertical edge of cabinet di may be adjacent to projection 57 extending forwardly from a frontai vertical edge of cabinet S1 when cabinets di and Si are piaced adjacent one another and facing in the saine direction. Those surfaces of said projections which face the center of the frontal portions of the cabinet, such as face d8' on projection 47' and face 58 on projection 57 may be perpendicular to the plane of the' front of the cabinets. A strip such as strip S9 adapted to iit over adjacent projections such as 47 and 57 cannot be reiied upon to maintain itself in place without additional fastening, as can strips 49, and 9'; strip 59 is preferably fastened in place by suitable means such as nails, screws or glue. The open frontal areas of cabinets 41 and 5l may be enclosed with doors such as S3, 83', 85 and 85' which may be hingeably mounted on strip 59 by suitable means such as hinges S4 and 84'.

Similarly, doors such as 81 and 82 may be hingably attached to strip 49 by means not shown.

Referring now to Figure 6 it may be observed that those faces of projections such as 17a and 27a `which face outwardly or away from the center of the frontal portion of the cabinets indicated respectively as 11a and 21a need not be flush with the outer sides of said cabinets. As shown, surfaces 19a and 29:1 are not adjacent each other but face an open space enclosed by said surfaces and strip 49a extending over said projections 17a and 27a and locked in place by reason of the dcvetailed joint formed by surfaces 18a and 28a respectively, each of which eX- tends forwardly from the frontal plane of cabinets 11a and 21a and simultaneously extends inwardly towards the center of the respective frontal area of each of said cabinets. Doors such as 87 and SS may be of the flush type, as shown, instead of being of the overlapping type as shown in the other figures, and may be hingably attached to strip 49a by means of hinges such as 86 and 86a.

Referring now to Figure 7 there is shown another embodiment wherein projections 67 and 77 extend forwardly from the top of the bottom of each of the frontal Vertical edges of two cabinets respectively 61 and 71. Said projections 67 and 77 may be adapted to provide for attaching cabinets 61 and 71 together as shown by means of strip 49b extending therearound and slidably engageable with said adjacent projections in the manner shown in connection with strips 49 in Figure 2. That surface of each of said projections which faces the central portion of the frontal area of each of the cabinets 61 and 71, namely surfaces 68 and 78 may be rounded as shown instead of being flat and disposed at an angle perpendicular to the plane of the front of the adjacent cabinets as in the case of surfaces 48' and S8 and instead of being flat and disposed at an angle at an acute angle to said plane as in the cases of such surfaces as 2S and 28 or 18a and 28a those surfaces of said projections such as surfaces 69 and 79 which are adapted to be in close proximity need not be adjacent but may be spaced somewhat apart as shown. Doors such as 89 and 9i) may be provided for the cabinets and these doors may be hingably attached to strip 49b by means not shown.

It may be seen from the figures that when the cabinets are joined with strips such as 49, 49a or 49b and are provided with strips such as 9 and 9 extending over those projections which are not adjacent to projections extending forwardly from the frontal vertical edges of adjacent cabinets, and when doors are mounted on said strips, the appearance from the front of an assembly of such cabinets is that of a custom-built cabinet unit. There is no observable indication from the front of the sectionalized nature of the assembled group of individual unit cabinets.

This invention has made possible great economies in the inventorying of sectionalized cabinets. The tastes of individual customers vary. Some prefer birch cabinets, some prefer mahogany, some prefer other attractive hardwood iinishes. Ordinarily it is not possible for a shop smaller than the very largest producers in the field to stock a full line of cabinets in each of the finishes which would be necessary to satisfy the wants and preferences of all customers. As a result it has generally been the custom of small woodworking establishments and even of very large woodworking establishments to stock a cornplete line of cabinets only in one or two selected finishes. A preferred inventorying practice with the cabinet of my invention is as follows: A stock of basic cabinet units, or parts therefor, is maintained in two depths, one depth being suitable for wall cabinets, used above counters, and one depth being suitable for counter cabinets. All of the deeper cabinets may be of the same height. Shallower cabinets may be stocked in about three heights. Cabinets of said depths and heights are stocked in say six widths which are standard or uniform for cabinets of all depths and heights. All of said cabinets are constructed of predominantly one or more of those woods which have exceitit) lent structural characteristics for cabinets, such as gum or poplar, but which are not generally well regarded for outside finished appearance. Strips corresponding to strips 9 and 9 and 49, and doors, are then stocked in sizes corresponding to the heights and widths of the aforementioned cabinets and dummy ends may be stocked in sizes correspending to the depths and heights and of said cabinets. A complete stock of strips, doors and dummy ends is maintained in each of the most suitable Woods for nish work and trim such as for example, birch and mahogany. Careful adherence to the above practice makes it possible to reduce inventory stocking costs enormously. The resultant savings in inventorying costs have been passed on to the consumer with the result that sectionalized cabinets of high quality are available at lower cost.

As mentioned hereinabove, an assembly of the unit cabinets of my invention has the appearance of a single custom-built multi-cabinet unit and the consumer may obtain cabinets suitable for usual domestic purposes such as for kitchens which are equivalent in both appearance and workmanship to custom-built cabinets at a cost less than one half of custom-built cabinets if he assembles the cabinets himself. This he may easily do because of the relative simplicity of the means provided for attaching the cabinets together. This results from savings due both to the characteristics of the cabinets and to the inventory stocking methods possible with the cabinet of the invention.

Due to the simplicity of the arrangement for attaching the cabinets together many home workmen can assemble the cabinets into completed units of fine quality and ne appearance in a very short time with a minimum of skill and a minimum of tools and consumers have been quick to take advantage of the superiorities offered by the cabinets of my invention.

It should thus be realized that my invention is broad in scope and is not to be limited excepting by the claims.

Having thus disclosed my invention I claim:

l. A Wood cabinet assembly comprising a plurality of unit cabinets each comprising two sides, a top and a bottom and each provided with solid projections extending forwardly from substantially the top to substantially the bottom of the frontal vertical edges thereof devoid of fastening means and devoid of space adapted to enclose fastening means, each two adjoining said unit cabinets being attached together without overlapping of projections by means of a grooved strip of wood slidingly engaged vertically over a pair of adjacent said projections to attach said cabinets together by virtue of locking said projections together, further characterized by said strip being unremovable forwardly and by the interior contour of said groove in said strip substantially following the exterior contour of said projections.

2. The assembly of claim l wherein said projections are half dovetail in form.

3. The assembly of claim l wherein said projections are partially round in form.

4. The assembly of claim l wherein doors are hingeably attached to each of said strips.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS p .FOREIGN vPATENTS Great Britain Oct. 28, 1946 

